What a High School Theater Director Actually Does

In this episode of the Blue Jesters podcast, the students interview high school theater director Jason Escandell. They talk about what it really means to run a program day to day and why directing students is different from directing adults. Jason shares how he builds culture in a rehearsal room. How he balances discipline and creativity. How he handles pressure from shows, schedules, and expectations. He also talks about mistakes he made early on and what experience has taught him about leading young artists. The conversation covers auditions, trust, consistency, and why process matters as much as performance. Jason offers clear advice for students who want to grow in theatre and for anyone thinking about teaching or directing in schools. This episode is an honest look at leadership, mentorship, and what it takes to build meaningful work in high school theater over time.